Improvement in air-exhausts for vacuum car-brakes



z sheets-sheet 1.

T. COOPER. AIR EXHAUST FOR VACUUM CAR-BRAKES.

Patented Nov. 21, 1876.

Fla. 3.

" INVENTOR.

T COOPER. V AIR'EXHAUST FOR VACUUM CAR-BRAKES. No.18,4.-60. Patente'dNov.21,1876.

WITNESS s.,

2 SheetsS heet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE COOPER, OF WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN A IR-EXHAUSTS FOR VACUUM CAR-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,460, dated November21, 1876; application filed April 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE OooPER, of

Warwick, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Air-Exhausting Apparatus forOperating Vacuum Oar-Brakes and for other Purposes; and I do herebydeclare that the following specification, taken in connection with thedrawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, andcomplete description of my invention.

My improvements relate to that class of ap- Various forms andarrangements of steampipes and stacks have been proposed, devised, andemployed, many of which have been heretofore patented.

So far as my knowledge extends, no exhauststack has been heretofore madewith which more than one steam-jet pipe was employed, although two ormore stacks have been heretofore placed side by side, each of vwhichwere provided with a single jet-pipe.

The main feature of my present invention is based upon my discovery ofthe fact that by combining within one exhaust-stack two or moresteam-jet pipes placed one above the other, and properly arranged withrelation to the interior of the stack, I can obtain a more completevacuum than can be obtained by the same jet-pipes, if each were singlycombined with a stack, and all of the stacks were placed side by sideand arranged to exhaust air from the same pipe or chamber. In otherwords, I have discovered that the exhausting power of two jets properlylocated and arranged within one stack is greater than the sum of thepowers of the two jets in two stack, which communicates with asteam-boiler.

stacks, the two jets in each case being arranged to draw air from a pipeor chamber common to both stacks. my invention consists in thecombination with an air-stack of two or more steam-jet pipes centrallylocated within the stack, and arranged one above the other, so that thesteam from each enters intoa vertical central airspace, enabling saidjets to co-operate upon a stack and ejected from its top.

Another feature of my invention consists in the combination, within anair-exhaust stack, of two or more annular steam-jets, located atdifferent longitudinal points in an air-stack, having an interiorpassage for the steam and air, which is gradually enlarged in diameterthe stack, whereby I attain a free ejection of air and steam from thestack.

Still another feature of my invention consists in the combination withthe jet-pipes of adjusting mechanism exteriorly accessible, whereby aperfect adjustment of the annular steam-space may be readily effected.

To more fully describe my invention I Will refer to the accompanyingdrawings, of which there are two sheets, and in which Figure 1, Sheet 1,represents, in rear end apparatus properly attached. Fig. 2 representsone of the jet-pipes audits flange, partly in side view and partly invertical section. Figs. 3 and 4 represent, respectively in top andbottom View, the pipe and flange in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a portionof the stack, partially in side view and partially in vertical section.Fig. 6 represents the same as in Fig. 5 in top view. Fig. 7, Sheet 2,represents the apparatus in vertical central section. Fig. 8 representsthe apparatus inside view, on a larger scale than in Fig. 1. Fig. 9represents the apparatus in top view. Fig. 10 represents, in top View,the base-flange on which the apparatus is mounted, and shows the guidesfor a check-valve. Fig. 11 represents, in lateral section, thesteam-chamber at the base of the which the several jet-pipes aresupplied.

In Fig. 1 the exhaust apparatus is shown to be connected with thesteam-boiler by way of This main feature of column of air which is drawnfrom below the from thefirst or lowest jet-pipe to the top of view, alocomotive-boiler with my exhaustingf stack, which is connected with theboiler from pipe at 'P, and provided with. a pipe at Q, for connectionwith the operative vacuum-chambers wherever they may be located.

Referring to Sheet 2, it will be seen that the apparatus is mounted on abase at J, which is provided with a screw-neck at U, for connection withaflan ge-plate projecting from the outside of the boiler. The base ishollow, constituting an air-chamber, with which, as at O, the pipe Q(shown in Fig. 1, and already described) is connected, At the top of thebasechamber, guarding an upward passage therefrom, is a check-valve, asat B. A relief-valve is shown at A, with lever at T, whereby air may atany time be admitted into the basechamber, and thence to theworking-chamjbers, with which it is connected.

Mounted upon the base-chamberis asteamchamber, D (shown in lateralsection at Fig. ll its sides are shown at K and K. Each portion thereofso designated serves as a base for one of two separate exhaust-stacks,and is properly flanged to receive them. This chamber receives the steamfrom the boiler and delivers it to all of the jet-pipes in both stacks.Each stack is shown in this instance to be composed of three flangedpipes, mounted one above the other, and designated at L L, I I, and H H.Each stack has also three jet-pipes, (shown at E, F, and G, and E, F,and G.) The lower jetpipes E E communicateinterior- 1y with theair-chamber J by way of an intervening inelosed space, and the portcovered by the check-valve B. At their upper ends they are chamfered andproperly entered into the flaring lower ends of the jet-pipes next aboveat Fand F, respectively. These pipes F F are expanded in diametergradually from bottom to top, at which point they also are chamfered andproperly entered into the flaring lower ends of the jet-pipes next aboveat G- G, respectively, which are in like manner expanded diametricallyfrom bottom to top, at which point they are also chamfered and properlyarranged concentrically with relation to the lower ends of top pipes Hand 11, respectively, and these are also larger at the top than at thebottom.

It will be seen that the annular spaces surrounding all of the jet-pipeswhich are above the steam-chambercommunicate therewith, while the lowerjet-pipes are located wholly within said chamber. The steam enters thechamber D by way of pipe P,and is controlled by valve shown in Figs. 8and 9 at S.

The jet-pipe G is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 2. It will be seenthat at a short distance from its upper end it is re-enforced inthickness, in order that it may have sufficient strength to resist thepressure of the radial set-screws at R in the stack, by means of whichthe upper ends of the pipes are properly adjusted with relation to thelower ends ofthe pipes next above, in order that the annular steam-spacefor the jet may be uniform at all points. i

When in. operation three annular jets of steam aresimultaneouslydischarged upward into the central space of eachstack, andthe gradual enlargement of saidspace, asshown, H

secures a free delivery of the air and steam from the stack, and resultsin the attainment of a more perfect vacuum than the three pipes couldpossibly attain if each were operated separately in a stack of its own,and at the same time working collectively, by having all of their stackscommunicating with the basechamber.

tion, and this may also in some measure contribute to the increasedresult referred to.

Experimental tests on this point develop the following points Steamatsixty pounds:

the single jet-pipe E in operation gave, as a result, vacuum of nineinches; undersa me conditions, pipe F eight inches; aggregate,seventeeninches; the two together, one above the other, eighteen inches.Again, steanrat seventy pounds, pipe E thirteen and a half inches, Ftwelve inches; aggregate, twentyfive and a half inches; the twotogether, as shown in drawings, twenty-seven inches. Steam at sixtypounds, a full stack, with three jet-pipes, as shown and described, gavethirty inches on the vacuum-gage. i i

As the action of car-brakes should be prompt, it is of value to have anexhaustingapparatus of extensive capacities, both in relation torapidity in execution, and to inducing the proper degree of vacuum forsecuring the desired degree of atmospheric pressure. 1

The apparatus shown, under circumstances recited, can exhaust to apractically perfect degree, and that, too, at a steam-pressure less thanis commonly available on locomotiveboilers; and it follows that, withthe usual high pressure of steam,its" rapidityin'execu tion will beproportionately increased.

While I prefer the construction and arrangement of the jet-pipes asshown,=1 am wellawai'e that approximately valuable results maybeattained by locating within an unbroken ecu-1 ture, and, say, one footbelow that one still another, with a lateral plug in the interiorof thepipelocated midway between them, pierced by still another-interior steampipe of smaller diameter. Steam being entered into the central pipe andthe annular space surrounding it would secure a proper discharge fromboth jets.

My improved apparatus is applicable to the This increased result isprobably. due to the fact that each jet of steam from the 1 various artsin which a complete or partial vacuum has a practical value.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby these Letters Patent-- 1. In an air-exhausting apparatus, thecombination, within an inclosing pipe or tube, of two or moresteam-jets, located one above the other, and arranged to dischargeupward and into a central air and steam space, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination, within an air-exhaust stack, of a central airspace,gradually increased in diameter from its base to its exitapert-ure, andtwo or more steam-jets located at different points longitudinallytherein, substantially as described.

3. The combinatiomwith a jet-pipe centrally located within an air-stack,of adjusting mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the annularsteam space may be accurately proportioned on all sides, as set forth.

THEODORE COOPER.

Witnesses:

J. (J. B. WOODS, THOMAS F. GOSGROVE.

